O uso do presente do subjuntivo em variação com o presente do indicativo no falar culto de Fortaleza

Abstract

In this study, we analyse the use of the present subjunctive in alternation with the present indicative, in noun clauses and clauses with the item “maybe”, in the spoken language of undergraduates from Fortaleza, through the perspective of Variationist Sociolinguistics (WEINREICH; LABOV; HERZOG, [1968] 2006; LABOV [1972] 2008), based on 17 interviews from the Porcufort (Projeto Português Oral Culto de Fortaleza), whose social parameters are gender and age group, investigated within a sample consistent of all university undergraduates. We investigated linguistic variables (the semantic power of the verb of the main clause, assertiveness of the clause, Sentence verb embedded and type of clause) and social variables (gender and age group of the speaker), in order to describe the variation of the subjunctive, the linguistic and social restrictions that govern it, aiming to contribute to the description and future mapping of this variation in Brazilian Portuguese. In total terms, the present subjunctive presented 23.9% of frequency and the indicative 76.1%.The present subjunctive is implemented in non-factual matrices, of low epistemic certainty, with expression of irrealis modality. Volitive non-factive matrix verbs condition the categorical use of the subjunctive present in the Fortaleza's speech, reflecting the results of other studies with data from the Northeast.